Sales Team Set for Windy City Show

ROSEMONT, Ill.-Urban Expositions has announced the exhibit sales team for the Windy City Gift Show, its new semi-annual exhibition that will debut here next January.

Led by Show Executive Director Marilyn Anderson-McGriff, the team will also include Show Director Stacey Barrett, who comes to Urban from Merchandise Mart Properties Inc.'s Chicago Market, and sales associate Lindsey Anderson. The team will report to Joan Ulrich, vice president of new business development for Urban Expositions.

"We have assembled the perfect team to help us achieve our goal of reestablishing the Chicagoland area as the premier trade center for gift retailers throughout the Midwest and surrounding areas," said Doug Miller, president, Urban Expositions. "Their extensive sales expertise and gift industry experience, coupled with a deep understanding of the specialized needs of the regional marketplace, ensure that they'll bring together a broad and deep product selection custom-tailored to reflect the regional tastes and interests of the region--a factor that will also offer appeal to top national retailers as well."

Anderson-McGriff will oversee and direct all sales and operations for the show. She also oversees sales and operations for Urban Expositions' Philadelphia Gift Show, a role she has held for the past 12 years. During her career with Urban, Anderson-McGriff has overseen and directed sales efforts for a number of the company's other shows as well. Prior to joining Urban, she managed operations for Messe Frankfurt.

Barrett will manage sales and operations for the Windy City Gift Show. Barrett served as director of sales for the semi-annual Chicago Market temporary show for the past five years. She joined MMPI in 2008 as a sales associate for the company's gift division.

Anderson will provide sales support services to McGriff and Barrett, with a special focus on the Treasures To Go category. Anderson joined Urban Expositions in 2012 and most recently served as show administrator for the company's West Coast Cash & Carry Shows as well as its Portland Gift Show.

The Windy City Gift Show will take place Jan. 18-21, 2014, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, and sales for the event are tracking ahead of schedule, according to Urban Expositions. Urban said it anticipates the debut winter edition to open with more than 1,000 lines in four product categories: Gifts, Handcrafted, Design Chicago and Treasures To Go (immediate delivery). The summer edition is scheduled for July 26-29, 2014.

In addition to its full-scale sales efforts, Urban said it will launch an "aggressive, targeted buyer marketing campaign designed to blanket the region with messaging about the new event and its opportunities."